Candice Malcolm: Khadr decision slap in the face to the U.S.

(This column originally appeared in the Toronto Sun)

On the Fourth of July, America’s Independence Day, news broke that the government of Canada would reportedly award $10.5 million to a convicted al-Qaida terrorist who murdered an American soldier in Afghanistan.

An anonymous source, apparently from the Trudeau government, spoke to reporters at the Associated Press, the Toronto Star and the Globe and Mail, choosing U.S. Independence Day to leak this story to the press.

We learned that not only will the Trudeau government give $10.5 million in Canadian taxpayer money to terrorist Omar Khadr, Trudeau will also offer an official apology on behalf of all Canadians.

Khadr confessed and pleaded guilty to war crimes, including terrorism, murder, spying and conspiring against Canada and our allies.

He admitted to throwing a grenade that killed Sergeant First Class Christopher Speer.

(Khadr later said he only confessed to get out of Guantanamo prison under a deal to have him finish his sentence in Canada.)

It was only because another American soldier was there to save his life that Khadr is alive today.

To many Canadians, Khadr’s actions are shameful and reprehensible.

They believe it was only through a flawed immigration vetting system that the Khadr family were ever able to step foot on Canadian soil, let alone gain citizenship.

Khadr comes from a family of terrorists.

His father, Ahmed Khadr, was a friend of Osama bin Laden and a leading fundraiser for al-Qaida.

Omar’s older brother, Abdurahman Khadr, once told PBS he had grown up “in an al-Qaida family.”

That the family was able to immigrate to Canada is deeply troubling.

While Omar Khadr was born in Canada, he did not show loyalty to Canada.

In the choice between Canada and al-Qaida, Khadr chose al-Qaida.

He chose Afghanistan.

He chose to be loyal to bin Laden and he chose to be part of an Islamist terrorist army.

Khadr followed in his family’s footsteps; he built bombs and he did what he could to kill Americans.

Khadr is not worthy of the honour of calling himself a Canadian.

He’s not worthy of the passport he carries or the freedom he enjoys.

Khadr should be in prison.

Instead, he is living freely in Canada and about to become a millionaire.

While this symbolic settlement fell on the symbolic national holiday of our closest friend and ally, not all Canadians agree with our prime minister.

Not all believe Khadr is a victim of circumstance.

Trudeau and his government may not value America’s friendship, but most Canadians do.

They understand that America is our closest friend and ally.

We share the same values, ideals, and the world’s longest undefended border.

We are also allies and partners in the war against Islamist terrorism.

When an American soldier is killed by a terrorist, Canadians mourn his death.

But on the 4th of July, instead of supporting our American friends, the Trudeau government gave our money to a man convicted as an America-hating terrorist.

It was a slap in the face, and it appears to have been deliberately announced on Independence Day.

Our American friends deserve better.

Even more so, the widow and family of Khadr’s victim -- who have launched a lawsuit to recover any money Khadr receives from the Canadian government -- deserve better.

If anyone deserves an apology and our tax dollars, it is the children of Christopher Speer.